Clean beauty is popping up everywhere. But what is it exactly? Clean beauty is used to distinguish products that consider human and environmental health and have a focus on using non-toxic ingredients. Parabens, formaldehyde, fragrance and aluminum are some of the more well-known harmful ingredients we keep hearing about over and over. In the United States, the beauty industry is self-regulated and the FDA doesn’t currently have any oversight in regulating what products are actually “clean.” We recommend an app and some beauty brands that we think meet the mark of real “clean beauty.”
OUR FAVORITE CLEAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS APP
THINK DIRTY
Think Dirty is an app that gets you to think about what kind of products you put in and on your body every day. It allows users to search by category, or, if you’re like us, there’s a handy search-bar tool that allows you to search brands and see what individual products are rated. Once you find the product, it is sorted by color code into a category. Green (0-3) is considered clean, Yellow (4-7) is half-dirty, and red (8-9) is dirty, i.e., contains ingredients that are harmful. You can click on any product to see it broken down by ingredients which are also color-coded to explain what specifically is harmful. It’s the ultimate guide to transparency and a great start to compare how dirty your products are plus recommendations for cleaner alternatives.
OUR FAVORITE CLEAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS BRANDS
VERSED
Versed is a popular and affordable skincare brand that we like. The company is committed to transparency about what makes their beauty products clean. They focus on great serums, moisturizers and other fun skin products. A favorite product of ours? The Skin Soak Rich Moisturizer Cream. Packed with vitamin E, algae extract and squalane, this moisturizer is a bargain at less than $20. Squalane, which is an ingredient that hydrates and refills the moisture your skin once had, helps fight against aging and feels like a light cloud on your face.
ISLA
Former venture capitalist Tracy Dubb and fourth-generation beauty product developer Charlie Denton launched their clean beauty line Isla last year with only three initial products because they wanted their products to be fully transparent and use the best ingredients sourced globally. Isla’s Tone Balance Elixir is our favorite. Not only is it 100% natural, it’s filled with ingredients that hydrate and improve skin’s firmness and texture. Plus it smells beautifully of citrus. And at $48, this high-quality product is quite a bargain.
NATIVE
Native makes a natural deodorant that works, isn’t a weird texture and smells delicious. Free of aluminum, parabens and sulfates, this deodorant truly embodies the definition of clean. It’s is available in scenets for women and men, although most of them are available unisex. Some of our favorite scents include Lavender & Rose, Eucalyptus & Mint, Citrus & Herbal Musk, and Cucumber & Mint. Native also offers a plastic-free deodorant.
THE HONEST COMPANY
Actress and clean beauty advocate Jessica Alba launched The Honest Company with a commitment to its name: honesty about their clean products. After some controversy in the past, the company re-launched with fewer products and more transparency. The Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick is one we love. It’s clean, it’s vegan, and comes in eight highly pigmented colors. Layerable, it can be worn as a tint or a lipstick.
ZOYA NAIL POLISH
We like Zoya Nail polish because it is one of the pioneers in clean nail polish and comes in an astonishing 400 shades. Most importantly, they make their products without the harmful ingredients formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. Some of our favorite shades include Merida, Olivera, Rachael and Brighton.
C & THE MOON
C & The Moon makes one special body scrub made from organic oils and mixed with the sweet scents of brown sugar and vanilla. Featured everywhere from Vogue to Goop, its many fans include Kim Kardashian. Its products contain clean ingredients and come in three distinctive sizes.
JANE IREDALE
Jane Iredale is one of the earliest names in the clean beauty movement, and we recommend this trusted, versatile 25-year old makeup brand. With a full range of products, this brand is highly regarded within the skincare and beauty industry. Their bronzer is one of our preferred products. Glimmering in a palette comprised of four different colors, excellent for almost any complexion.
PACIFICA
Another lesser-known but early entrant in the clean beauty space is Pacifica, which was started in 1996 but didn’t become well known until it hit the shelves at Target and Ulta. Best known its vegan and cruelty-free products, Pacifica focuses on skincare at an affordable price. We like the Sea Foam Complete Face Wash because it makes your face feel baby-soft with coconut oil. Sulfate-free, anti-aging with coconut water, coconut oil, sea algae and white tea, it’s an outstanding cleanser. It’s also extremely affordable at only $10 a bottle.
